US opens direct talks with Myanmar's generals, reversing years of isolation

The Trump administration has begun direct talks with Myanmar’s military-installed government, according to US officials and others familiar with the outreach, in a sharp reversal of Washington’s efforts to isolate the country’s generals after the 2021 coup.



The US Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research, Michael Vance, played a leading role the outreach, which has focused on shutting down scam centers that target Americans but could lead to broader engagement, including on Myanmar’s rare-earth mineral deposits, according to seven current and former officials and others familiar with the policy shift.



Vance joined talks with coup leader-turned-president Min Aung Hlaing in the capital Naypyitaw on September 15-16.



The meeting was aimed at securing the release of American businessman Adam Castillo but also provided an opening for further engagement, four of the people said.